Check writer



J. WHITAKER CHECK WRITER v Aug. 13, 1940.

Filed April 20, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 O O (n muowu w comwou pwm o (O0) \IOU PLQNH J. WHITAKER CHECK WRITER Aug. 13, 1940.

Filed April 20, I938 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Aug. 13, 1940 OFFCE CHECK John Whitaker, North WRITER v Wales, Pa, assignor to Safe Guard Corporation, Lansdale, Pa, a corporation 03? Delaware Application April 20, 1938, Serial No. 263,164

3 Claims.

This invention relates to check writing machines and more especially to those of the type disclosed in my prior United States Letters Patent No. 1,794,266 dated February 24, 1931.

The object of the present invention is to provide a simple form of mechanism for changing the type character set up on printing line of the machine; and for returning all of the type bars simultaneously to a neutral position, if de sired, to clear the printing line for a new amount after the printing of a check, as a part of the cycle of operations by which the printing of the check is accomplished.

The construction and operation of the mechanism forming the subject of the present invention will be fully disclosed hereinafter, reference being had to the accompanying drawings of which:

Fig. 1 is a plan View of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a right side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a left side elevation, partly in longitudinal section;

Fig. 4 is a side elevation of a detail of the machine illustrating the mode of operating one of the type bars; and

Fig. 5 is a detached perspective view of the type bar and associated mechanism shown in Fig. 4. 1

The machine as shown in the prior patent and in the accompanying drawings herewith, comprises a hollow base structure l and a superstructure 2 which is attached integrally to one end of the base structure at 3 and overhangs the main portion of the base structure to provide a check receiving slot 4 therebetween.

Disposed in close laterally adjacent relation to each other, in and extending longitudinally of the superstructure 2, and adapted for selective independent longitudinal movement there-- of and therein, is a series of rectilinear type bars 5, 5, each of which is provided on it's under side 6 with a plurality of printing type characters '5 and on its upper side 8 with a plurality of corresponding identifying characters 9 adapted to be brought selectively into a line X--X (Fig. 1) for positioning the corresponding type characters 'l on a corresponding printing line above the check slot, for cooperation with a movable platen operable from a position below the check slot within the base i and between which and the characters l a check inserted in the slot i is pressed by operation of a single lever for printing the amount of the check thereon, as fully disclosed in the prior patent above noted.

Each type bar 5 is of a hollow construction (Cl. idl --19) and comprises a main vertical Web it, a top laterally extending flange H which carries the identifying characters and a bottom laterally extending flange it on which the printing type characters 'i are formed or mounted.

Each type bar is also provided with vertical end flanges l3 and id at the front and rear ends respectively thereof and in which are formed bearings 55 for slidably supporting the bars 5 on guide rods it which are suitably supported in the superstructure 2.

The type bars 5 are each movable independently of each other to a rear neutral position by a spring H, the rear end of which is fixed to a rigid portion of the superstructure 2 while the opposite end of the spring is attached at E8 to the front end of a release bar it which is pivotally attached at 28 to a lever M. The release lever 2! in turn is pivotally mounted at 22 to and in a recess formed in the front flange 13 of the type bar 5.

The underside of the top flange ll of each type bar 5 is provided with a series of ratchet teeth 23, one tooth for each character on the bar. Pivotally mounted at 26 in the rear end of the superstructure 2 and projecting forwardly between the upper and lower flanges H and [2 of each type bar 5 is a pawl 25 which is normally pressed upwardly at its forward end into en-' gagement with the ratchet teeth 23 by a spring 26. I

' The type bars 5, 5 may be independently moved longitudinally relative to each other in a forward direction by a finger post or lug 2i, on and individual to each bar 5, whereby the forward end of the pawl associated with the type bar being moved will snap behind the ratchet teeth 23 successively to retain the type bar in the desired position at? which the forward movement ceases, with one of the characters l" on the printing line If for any reason it is desired to move any one of the type bars rearwardly, to bring a number of lower denomination onto the printing line X-X, without necessitating a previous return of the bar to its full rear or neutral position, it may be accomplished by merely pressing a lever 28 forming part of the release lever 2! of the bar 5 toward the finger post 2i of the bar. This will rock the lever 2| and move the release bar 39 forwardly. i A lug 29 on the rear end of. the release bar l9, which normally bears against an incline surface 29a on the rear end of the ratchet flange ll of the type bar 5, and which overlies the pawl 25, will be moved forwardly and downwardly by the forward movement of the release bar I9. This will swing the pawl 25 about its pivot and throw the forward end thereof downwardly, clear of the ratchet teeth 23, whereupon the type bar may be moved rearwardly to any desired extent or position and upon releasing the lever 28 the pawl will rise upwardly to a position behind one of the ratchet teeth 23 and retain the type bar in the selected position. Thus, correction of errors in setting up the amount on the printing line, or changes in any of the individual denominations of the figures making up the amount, may be quickly and easily accomplished without returning the individual bars by which such changes are to be made, to the full rear or neutral position, as has been necessary heretofore.

Heretofore, all the type bars have been returned simultaneously to the full rear or neutral position to clear the amount line, by pressing a release button which projected upwardly beyond the top surface of the casing forming part of the superstructure 2, as shown in the prior patent noted. The release button was mounted on a lever 30 which was and in the present case also is pivotally mounted at 32 in the superstructure 2 and is provided with a cross bar or short arm 3| which projects transversely of and across all of the pawls 25 of the entire series of type bars 5. This required a separate manual operation in addition to the cycle of operations necessary for printing the check, i. e. causing a cooperative pressing operation of the check between the movable platen and the characters of the type bars 5 which were lined up on the printing line X-X.

In the present case the above extra operation is eliminated and the simultaneous return of all the type bars 5, 5 is efiected, when desired, as a last part of the return motion of the platen operating lever 35, after effecting operation of the platen, and which before engaging the back rest abutment or stop 36 on the superstructure 2, engages a laterally extending pin 37, forming the lower end of a rod 38 which is carried by and depends from the release lever 30, as clearly shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3. Downward angular pressure of the operating lever against the pin 3'! rocks the lever 30 and causes the short arm 3! to press all the pawls 25 down at the same time thereby detaching the pawls from the type bars 5, 5, whereupon the springs I1, I! return all the type bars 5, 5 to the rear or neutral positions at one time.

The tension of the springs ll normally holds the release bars 59 and the pawl releasing lugs 29 thereof in an inoperative position and rocks the release levers 2! about their pivots 22 until an abutment 33 on each lever 2| engages the forward end of the type bar 5 to which the lever 2| is attached, after which the tension of the spring exerts its force on the front end of the type bar and tends at all times to move the bar rearwardly to its neutral position and effects such movement when the pawl 25 is released from the ratchet teeth 23 of the bar, unless the bar is manually held against such movement.

Aside from the above, the construction and operations of the mechanism are the same as disclosed in the prior patent previously noted and the appended claims are not directed to such mechanism only insofar as the elements enter into the combinations of elements forming the subject matter of the present invention.

I claim:

1. In a check writer comprising a series of hollow manually operable rectilinear type bars mounted for relative longitudinal movement selectively, resilient means individual to and operable within the hollow of each bar for moving said bar to a neutral position, pawl and ratchet means individual to and operable within the hollow of each bar for maintaining the bar in an adjusted position in opposition to said resilient means, pawl release mechanism for, individual to and carried by each bar comprising a bar element mounted Within the hollow of each bar for relative longitudinal movement with respect to each type bar and engageable with one of the pawl and ratchet parts of said mechanism for effecting release thereof, and a release lever element pivoted to said type bar adjacent one end thereof and extending out of the hollow of the type bar and to which one end of said release bar is pivotally connected.

2. In a check writer comprising a series of hollow manually operable rectilinear type bars mounted for relative longitudinal movement selectively, resilient means individual to and operable within the hollow of each bar for moving said bar to a neutral position, pawl and ratchet means individual to and operable within the hollow of each bar for maintaining the bar in an adjusted position in opposition to said resilient means, pawl release mechanism for, individual to and carried by each bar comprising a bar element mounted within the hollow of each bar for relative longitudinal movement with respect to each type bar and engageable with one of the pawl and ratchet parts of said mechanism for effecting release thereof, a release lever element pivoted to said type bar adjacent one end thereof and extending out of the hollow of the type bar and to which one end of said release bar is pivotally connected, and a lug on the opposite end of said release bar overlying said pawl and engaging a cam surface on said type bar for depressing said pawl upon rocking of said release lever.

3. In a check writer comprising a series of manually operable rectilineartype bars mounted for relative longitudinal movement selectively, resilient means individual to each bar for moving said bar to a neutral position, pawl and ratchet means individual to each bar for maintaining the bar in an adjusted position in opposition to said resilient means, and pawl release mechanism for, individual to and carried by each bar comprising a bar element mounted for relative longitudinal movement with respect to and carried by each type bar and engageable with one of the pawl and ratchet parts of said mechanism for efiecting release thereof, a release lever element pivoted to said type bar adjacent one end thereof and to which one end of said release bar is pivotally connected and a lug on the opposite end of said release bar overlying said pawl and engaging a cam surface on said type bar for depressing said pawl upon rocking of said release lever, said resilient means being connected to one of said release elements for maintaining said elements normally in inoperative positions on and relative to the type bar.

JOHN WHITAKER. 

